RLCorps History Check

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scottonthefen

scottonthefen

Well-Known Member
Posts
532
Location
England
My Dad's just bought a Series 3 LWB ex-military.

The chassis number on the VIN plate is for a lightweight, but RLCorps couldn't find any records against this chassis number at all.

The chassis number stamped on the dumb iron is different to the one on the VIN plate, and does have records for a Series 3 LWB against it, as expected.

The vehicle has a recon'd engine and gearbox with stencils and recon dates and tags - engine and gearbox numbers both identify as lightweight models.

We are mystified by this lightweight chassis number on the VIN plate with no military records against it.. and the apparent coincidence of this Series 3 LWB having a lightweight engine and gearbox in it.

Has anyone experienced anything similar?
 
This sounds like there has been some ID swapping at some point, possibly to gain tax free status from a scrapped Lightweight to a later 109. What age is the Lightweight ID? What age is the chassis number stamped on the dumb iron? The bottom line is, the 109 chassis is 'the vehicle' and should be registered as such. The lightweight is clearly not there and should be 'scrapped'. Engines and gearboxes are easily swapped and are of little concern in the grand scheme of things.
 
scottonthefen said:
The one from the VIN plate.
Click to expand...
obviously dodgy then as its not a lightweight youve got a ringer, yove got to ask why has it got another vin plate was the 109 nicked ,was its plate used for another vehicle so another needed later for it or some more innocent reason for putting another id on
 
If the lightweight vehicle on the VIN plate itself ever existed, there would be military records against it, right? - as they were only made for the military?

wireman said:
This sounds like there has been some ID swapping at some point, possibly to gain tax free status from a scrapped Lightweight to a later 109. What age is the Lightweight ID? What age is the chassis number stamped on the dumb iron? The bottom line is, the 109 chassis is 'the vehicle' and should be registered as such. The lightweight is clearly not there and should be 'scrapped'. Engines and gearboxes are easily swapped and are of little concern in the grand scheme of things.
Click to expand...

If we wanted to do that now, is it possible to get a VIN plate with the correct (109) chassis number on?

What happens when a vehicle leaves military service? How does it get a civilian registration plate, and does it always keep a VIN plate with its own chassis number on? We've never had an ex-mil before so we don't know..
 
scottonthefen said:
If the lightweight vehicle on the VIN plate itself ever existed, there would be military records against it, right? - as they were only made for the military?



If we wanted to do that now, is it possible to get a VIN plate with the correct (109) chassis number on?

What happens when a vehicle leaves military service? How does it get a civilian registration plate, and does it always keep a VIN plate with its own chassis number on? We've never had an ex-mil before so we don't know..
Click to expand...
when it left the mod it would keep original vin/chassis number, it would be just assigned a number plate when whoever wanted to put it on the road, some had a year of putting it on the road with the new civillian owners like my lightweight had it was built going by the vin/chassis number in 1974 but number plate was 78,some had q plates i believe
 
"...If we wanted to do that now, is it possible to get a VIN plate with the correct (109) chassis number on?..."

You can write/go online to the Heritage Trust at Gaydon to obtain a Certificate of its build date (the 109 vin) see here:
https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/archive/heritage-certificates

Its the £43 you need.

Then with this apply to the DVLA for a V5. You used to be able to do this over the counter at the local DVLA office but they are all shut now so you'll have to send it in the post. The vehicle will need an MOT (if under 40 years old) but it'll have to be done on the 109 Vin not the current reg number.
 
We've ordered a Heritage Certificate. Hopefully with that, and the military B Card, and photos of the vehicle and chassis stamp we can get the logbook corrected and maybe even a new VIN plate stamped up. I'll post here about our success, or otherwise.. :) Thanks all.
 
The BMHI Certificate, military records, and photos of the vehicle, chassis stamp, and VIN plate, are all with DVLA at present. I'll let you know more when we get a reply.
 
Good stuff, hopefully you'll hear back before Christmas. I think DVLA have a 6 week turn around on this kind of enquiry, if you've not back in that time email them "the squeaky wheel gets the oil!"
 
6 weeks was about right. We've heard back from the DVLA. They say they have no records for the L reg plate currently on the vehicle, and gave us two options:
  • Get an Owners club to back you up in asserting the L reg is correct and complete a V765 (not likely, the BMHI Certificate and MOD records date the vehicle to a V or W plate).
  • Complete a V55/5, pay £55, and accept a new age related (V or W) reg, to be assigned by DVLA
So we'll go with the V55/5. We got a VIN plate to put the correct chassis number on, so when we're done we'll have that matching the V5C matching what's on the dumb iron matching the BMHI and MOD records and we'll be straight.

Of course I'll never let my old man forget the time he bought a Land Rover with three different chassis numbers. :D If I'd done it I'd never have heard the last of it. :)
 
scottonthefen said:
6 weeks was about right. We've heard back from the DVLA. They say they have no records for the L reg plate currently on the vehicle, and gave us two options:
  • Get an Owners club to back you up in asserting the L reg is correct and complete a V765 (not likely, the BMHI Certificate and MOD records date the vehicle to a V or W plate).
  • Complete a V55/5, pay £55, and accept a new age related (V or W) reg, to be assigned by DVLA
So we'll go with the V55/5. We got a VIN plate to put the correct chassis number on, so when we're done we'll have that matching the V5C matching what's on the dumb iron matching the BMHI and MOD records and we'll be straight.

Of course I'll never let my old man forget the time he bought a Land Rover with three different chassis numbers. :D If I'd done it I'd never have heard the last of it. :)
Click to expand...
That's great, glad you're sorted - and legal!
Remember to 'scrap' the 'lightweight' (only when you've got the 109 finally sorted). Don't be tempted to sell the Lightweight ID/V5 on fleabay as that's illegal.
 
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